Bank Robber’s First Mistake Was Loading The Wrong Ammunition, His Second Was …: “An Ohio criminal made the mistake of robbing a bank that had an armed, off-duty police officer inside — and loaded his gun with the wrong kind of ammunition. The now-deceased 20-year-old Terry Frost III timed his robbery perfectly Wednesday, and knew the exact moment the teller withdrew $90,000 from the ATM. Police have now released surveillance footage of the shooting. Frost sprinted into a Madison, Ohio bank and within seconds jumped the front desk, grabbed the bag, and then found himself on the receiving end of Officer Kevin Hankerson’s weapon. Frost pointed his weapon, wrapped in a plastic shopping bag, at the officer and it misfired. Hankerson fired twice, hitting Frost once in the chest. The hapless criminal loaded the wrong ammo, investigators found, when they finally tracked down Frost, dead in a nearby wooded area”

Electric flowers? “How bumblebees find flowers to gather nectar and pollen was largely a mystery – until now. Scientists have found tiny, vibrating hairs may explain how the industrious insects sense and interpret signals transmitted by flowers, leading them to the plants so they can gather pollen. While it was known that flowers communicate with pollinators by sending out electric signals, experts were previously unsure how bees detect the fields. Using a laser to measure vibrations, scientists at the University of Bristol found both the bees’ antenna and the hairs on their bodies ‘dance’ in response to an electric field. Looking at the bees’ nervous system, they discovered it is the hairs that alert the bee’s nervous system to this signal. Dr Gregory Sutton of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences said: ‘We were excited to discover that bees’ tiny hairs dance in response to electric fields, like when humans hold a balloon to their hair”

Treasure trove of vintage tractors and steam engines collected by two enthusiasts sells for £1.5million: “John Keeley and his wife May amassed the hoard of rusty machines on their farm in Berkshire over a 40-year period. Their bizarre fleet included 50 vintage tractors and 15 steam engines and was so vast they were able to stage their own agricultural show that became a famous event. The couple stored their collection in several barns and even hedgerows. Mr Keeley died in 1999 and the annual Knowl Hill Steam and Country Show ran for five more years before it folded. Mrs Keeley died last year and relatives who inherited their machines decided to sell them at auction. The highlight at the sale was a 1928 Foden D-Type Timber tractor that went under the hammer for £140,000, while a 1929 Sentinel five-tonne steam wagon called ‘Deborah’ went for £80,000 and a 1935 version sold for £75,000. Two steam rollers dating back to the 1930s fetched a combined £127,000 and an 1873 John Fowler ploughing engine was bought for £58,000”

Man mountain benchpresses TV host: “He weighs a lofty 179 kilograms and stands at a whopping 6 feet 9 inches. So it comes as no surprise to see Hafthór ‘Thor’ Björnsson, 27, bench pressing pint-sized Today Extra host David Campbell, 42, with ease during Tuesday morning’s episode. The Game Of Thrones star, dubbed ‘The Mountain’ in series four, picked up a screaming David like a ragdoll before tossing him up in the air with ease. Showing off his giant muscular arms, the Icelandic superstar held the giggling TV presenter like a bell bar. All David could do was yell ‘Oh my God’ as the muscleman raised him upwards before placing him back on the floor gently. Despite his screams of terror, the father-of-three confessed: ‘That’s the best thing that has ever happened to me in my whole life.’

Mexican soccer star overpowered his kidnapper, wrestled his gun from him and beat him while calling the police: “A dramatic account of the kidnapping of Alan Pulido has revealed how the Mexican soccer star fought off his captor, then wrestled and beat him while demanding to be told where he was being held. Twenty-four hours after he was kidnapped, the 25-year-old found he was alone with one of his captors and saw his chance. He wrestled the man’s pistol and his cellphone and dialed Mexico’s emergency number. Pulido then threatened and beat his captor while still on the phone, demanding to be told where they were. On the first call, with the kidnapper overpowered, Pulido peered out of a window and described the white two-story house with two cars, grey and red, parked in front. Once police arrived, he made a third call to confirm with the operator that they were trustworthy. Pulido was nabbed by four armed people on a highway while returning from a party at about 11.30 pm Saturday. His girlfriend, who was not taken, alerted others”

A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a
sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog For Sale’

He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there.

‘You talk?’ he asks.

‘Yep,’ the Lab replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says ‘So, what’s your story?’

The Lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so… I told the CIA.

In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’

‘I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running…

But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in.

I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.’

‘I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

‘Ten dollars,’ the guy says.

‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’

‘Because he’s a Bull Shitter. He’s never been out of the yard’

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Are sharks just misunderstood? New study finds ocean predators ‘have personalities’ and are sensitive to their environment: “Researchers at Macquarie University’s Department of Biological Sciences in Sydney led the study, which placed Port Jackson sharks in unfamiliar environments and measured how each of them reacted. ‘Over the past few decades, personality research has shown that nearly 200 species of animals demonstrate individual personality,’ lead author of the study Evan Byrnes said. Port Jackson sharks are nocturnal sharks found in South Australia, and often in the waters off of Port Jackson. During the study each shark was placed in a new tank and given shelter. They were then timed on how long it took them to emerge from the shelter and explore their new surroundings. The second behaviour test focused on their ability to handle stress. Their behaviours were consistent as each trial was repeated, proving that some sharks are better at reacting to stress and bolder than others”

Stunning ‘skeleton’ superyacht features stacked terraces with no walls, a dance floor, outdoor cinema and swimming pool: “An American designer has given the traditional superyacht a complete makeover with a new concept that uses a series of stacked open-plan terraces instead of enclosed decks. Each terrace on board the stylish and unconventional vessel, called La Petit Terrasse, has a unique shape and diverse uses – from an open-air cinema and fitness area to a dance floor and outdoor grill. Inspired by Mediterranean villas, the elegant 148ft yacht was designed with an Italian fashion mogul in mind and could even be used as a floating catwalk if it is ever built. Desautel set out to create a luxurious home on water while exploring what a series of floating terraces would look like in the form of a superyacht.

Russian family sit down to dinner with a 300lb BEAR at the table: “The idea of sitting down for dinner with a 300lb bear is enough to put most people off their food. But for one family from Russia this wild idea is actually a way of life that extends far beyond sharing the odd meal at the dinner table. Standing at more than seven foot, the large mammal is so domesticated the family often sit down together in the evenings to watch television. Stepan gets through more than a bowl of porridge a day his favourite dish is a can of condensed milk thanks to a sweet tooth. He also stocks up on a hefty 25kg of fish, vegetables and eggs – meaning dinner time at the Panteleenko’s is never a breeze. Svetlana and Yuriy adopted Stepan when he was aged just three months. The couple say that because they have known the bear so long his temperament is extremely gentle and he can often be found cuddling up to them on the sofa”

Metal detector enthusiast unearths 2,000-year-old Roman lead ingot worth up to £250,000: “A metal detecting enthusiast has fulfilled the dream of every amateur archaeologist after he unearthed a 2,000-year-old Roman ingot. Jason Baker discovered the ‘very rare’ find – known as a pig – on a rally organised by the Southern Detectorists Club. Mr Baker, who has only been metal detecting for 18 months, stumbled across the 2ft mining ingot on a farm in Wells, Somerset, with the ancient artefact inscribed with the name of emperor Marcus Aurelius Armeniacus. ‘When the Romans invaded Britain 2,500 years ago, they mined up the lead, cast it into big lead blocks and put the emperor’s name on it and sent it back to Rome. ‘Basically mine got lost on the process back to Rome,’ he said. Sean McDonald, from the club, said the last Roman pig found was in the 18th century. He added: ‘It is such a rare find it’s hard to put a price on it. A minimum would be £60,000 but it could go over that fivefold”

Newlyweds who met at a bagpipes rehearsal 13 years ago could kick off their wedding reception only one way: “Newlyweds who fell in love through playing the bagpipes have piped themselves into their own wedding. Over 3,000 people watched Steven and Claire Boyle, from Falkirk, entertain their guests in Grangemouth’s Grange Manor Hotel. Joiner Steven Boyle, 31, first met Claire, a support services assistant, 25, at a rehearsal night for the Denny & Dunipace pipe band 13 years ago. And members of the band were on hand to mark the celebrations with a mix of traditional and modern songs. Mother of the bride Karen Malcolmson said proudly: ‘We all thought it was a great idea when they said they wanted to celebrate their wedding day by playing the pipes for their guests and it all went off brilliantly. ‘I don’t think Claire or Stephen knew the hotel staff were filming them while they played the pipes”

Poisonous fish in British waters too: “A man enjoying a bank holiday weekend seaside stroll had to be airlifted to hospital after he was stung by a rare poisonous fish. The 70-year-old man was left fighting for breath after being stung by the by the toxic spines on a weever fish at a Welsh seaside resort. The man was near the pier in Trefor on the Llyn Peninsula, North Wales, on Saturday morning when he spotted the creature – and picked it up in the shallows. The fish stung his hand triggering respiratory problems in the septuagenarian and the alarm was raised by a coastguard team. A spokesman said: ‘Weever fish have spines going along their backs. It’s a small fish but it has a very nasty sting. Weever fish – normally yellow and about four inches long – come into the shallows during warmer weather. Safety chiefs issued a warning to beach-combers over the fish which buries itself in the sand under shallow water”

The world’s dumbest burglars?: “An entertaining video has captured what could be one of the most pathetic attempts at a break-in ever seen. In the longer form of the video, uploaded on YouTube by Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the young men are seen running around the outside of a house in San Antonio, Texas. One wears a white t-shirt and the other a blue and white top, and both struggle to find an easy access point. Stuck for ideas, the man in the white shirt comes up with the ingenious notion of smashing a window with his uncovered bare elbow. He manages to break through, but in doing so comically cuts his arm on the glass. The men then stagger off, their pear-shaped plan a total shambles”

France creates its own ‘Easter Island’ of 1,000 eerie looking figures deep in the heart of of Brittany: “These eerie looking figures are the first in an extraordinary 50-year project to create a £10 million ‘Easter Island’ of 1,000 statues in a remote valley in France. The intricately carved monoliths – each nearly 15ft tall and made from granite – are slowly taking over a country valley in Brittany. The statues recognise the area’s local Catholic saints and rich Celtic heritage, and the project is inspired by the statues of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and the Moai of Easter Island. Some 64 of the statues currently stand in the valley with artists from all over the world working on their constructions. Breton philosopher Philippe Abjean founded the site near Morlaix in north west France – where each of the individual statues come with their own legend”

DeLoreans from across the world roll into Belfast to celebrate the iconic Back to the Future car’s 35th anniversary: “Seventy DeLorean cars made famous by the Back To The Future movies have driven through Belfast, the city that built them, ahead of what has been hailed as the largest ever gathering of owners. More of the world-famous stainless steel vehicles, with their distinctive gullwing doors, are expected to arrive in Northern Ireland for the four-day DeLorean Eurofest. At the start of the 1980s, controversial US industrialist John DeLorean brought his car manufacturing plant to Dunmurry in west Belfast with the lure of significant government financial support. Although the factory initially injected some much-needed optimism in Troubles-era Northern Ireland, its stay was short-lived and ultimately ended in failure. Fewer than 9,000 cars had rolled off the production line at the Dunmurry plant”

The $650 robotic suitcase that follows you like a dog and avoids obstacles on its own: “The days of dragging heavy luggage through an airport may be over thanks to a new robotic suitcase that follows its owner like a loyal dog. Called Cowa Robot, the $650 (£450) carry-on suitcase moves on its own at a top speed of nearly 4.5mph and can navigate its way back to a passenger within a distance of 164ft. To activate it, all the user has to do is press a hidden button in the handle and start walking – it will automatically keep up thanks to high-tech sensors in the case and a tracker bracelet worn by the traveller. Designed by a Shanghai-based startup, Cowa Robot was built with the latest in robotics. It follows at a 45-degree radius and can be programmed to follow a specific path, and it has a handle so it can be dragged when the airport is too crowded. The 10lb suitcase has four USB ports and a built-in battery than can charge a passenger’s mobile phone or tablet, and has a special compartment for laptops or other devices”

The lazy among us have always thought making your bed is a bad idea. Now we have proof.The lazy among us have always thought making your bed is a bad idea. Now we have proof. Photo: Stocksy

People often tell you to make your bed because it ‘starts the day off well’ or that it brings order and calm.

But the lazy among us have always known making your bed is a bad idea.

For starters, it’s difficult to see the point of arranging all your throw pillows and stuffed animals on the bed if you’re only going to push them off hours later.

If you have to leave the house early in the morning you’re probably all bleary-eyed and you don’t have the time or desire for tackling chores.

Even if you thought about making your bed, as soon as someone nags you to do it, that immediately makes you not want to do it. It’s all very complicated.

Plus, it’s harder to get comfortable in your bed if it’s been made and the sheets are firmly tucked in. (I like to create a cocoon out of blankets and fold all the sheets up around my legs, to the point where it’s stupidly warm, which is why bed-making is not for me.)

Another thing to consider: if you make your bed in the morning, that means you’re telling yourself that you won’t be getting back into it for the rest of the day, and you just don’t need to place those boundaries on yourself.

Finally, all these very valid points have now also been backed up by scientific evidence. Thanks science.

According to reports, making your bed every morning may be bad for your health.

The reason is dust mites; they don’t just look nasty, they are nasty.

In the average bed there’s as many as 1.5 million microscopic mites crawling around and feasting off the skin cells you shed while you sleep.

In the morning, if you make your bed immediately, all of the skin cells, sweat, mites and their droppings – which can cause asthma and allergies – will be trapped underneath.

However, if the bed is left unmade, the mites, dead skin, the sweat, all of it, will be exposed to fresh air and light.

So, if you have to make your bed it is better to wait until the evening. By that point your bed is much less appealing to dust mites and they will have died from dehydration or just lost interest.

What you should do to mitigate allergies is wash your sheets every one-to-two weeks, use a damp mop or rag to remove dust and encase your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen impermeable covers.

Starbucks is a bit tricky: “You know when you think you’re getting more bang for your buck when you purchase a more expensive grande over a tall coffee in Starbucks? Well it turns out you’re not. A frustrated customer has been captured pouring a £2.75 grande mocha from a self-service coffee machine into a £2.45 tall cup… and not one drop overflows. Court enforcement agent Denny Mills filmed his colleague Lee Batley exposing the ‘scam’ at a motorway service station between Sheffield and Derby. A spokesperson for Starbucks said: ‘We want all our customers to receive a high quality coffee, but we also want them to be able to drink it safely. ‘Our vending machines are calibrated to allow a small amount of room in the cup to ensure they can be carried securely and the drink volume served is consistent with each cup size.’

Dr. Henry Heimlich, 96, performs lifesaving technique he invented for the FIRST TIME when a woman chokes on her hamburger in the seat beside him: “Dr Henry Heimlich, the 96-year-old Cincinnati surgeon credited with inventing the lifesaving technique named after him, used it for the first time this week to save a fellow senior center resident who was choking on a hamburger. Heimlich, had never employed it in an emergency, said center spokesman Ken Paley on Friday. Heimlich was sitting at a communal dining table at Cincinnati’s Deupree House, an upscale senior living center where he lives, on Monday and noticed fellow resident Patty Ris, 87, in distress while eating an open-faced hamburger. He dashed out of his seat, put his arms around her and pressed on her abdomen below the rib cage, following his own instructions. ‘After three compressions, this piece of meat came out, and she just started breathing, her whole face changed,’ Heimlich said”

Hedges in British village are causing a stir after their recent trim : “A house in a rural village is causing a stir after its hedges were trimmed into phallic-like shapes. The large plants were grown and the shapes were created using topiary skills in Cross, near Axbridge in Somerset. But grandfather-of-three Peter Knife, who owns the 400-year-old £450,000 property, said he has no idea how the hedges were shaped and has had no complaints. The 69-year-old said: ‘I’ve lived at the house for 20 years with my wife and its always been known as the ‘willy house’ by children who go to a school nearby. ‘I’ve also had people walk past my house and ask me how I keep my hedges so well-maintained. I wind them up and tell them I put Viagra in the roots.’ One neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: ‘I pass by the topiary every day. ‘I think they have always been like that and I don’t think they can cut them down because it is part of the deeds to the house”

An absurd BBQ: “Costing £36,000, this is Britain’s most expensive barbecue unit — the ideal thing for those with money to burn. The new ‘A la Carte Grill Station’, from upmarket garden furniture firm Gaze Burvill, is being aimed at A-listers. A state-of-the-art, stand-alone barbecue unit is housed in a surround crafted from 120 to 150-year-old prime European oak. Imprecise heat control on most barbecues can make outdoor cooking a hit-or-miss proposition. But the outdoor gas grill’s burners are said to ensure chef-worthy precision for everything from seared steaks to seabass. An infrared sear zone is said to seal in juices and flavours, while a rotisserie system rotates chicken or pork in front of an infrared burner. And while infrared heaters radiate heat to slowly cook food, powerful halogen lights illuminate the grilling surface and control knobs are LED-lit for easy reading when preparing a late-night dinner”

A SILVER snake: “They have a reputation for being ‘silver-tongued’ creatures in many folk tales and legends, but now a snake that appears to be covered in the precious metal has been discovered by biologists. The Silver Boa was first spotted by a team on a remote island in the Bahamas, who later found the remarkably coloured creature was completely unknown to science. Having found the first female, the group then searched the island to locate additional animals, turning up five more of the silver snakes. Biologists collected tissue samples, with DNA analysis revealing the remarkably coloured animals were unknown to science. The snakes are believed to have diverged from other boas – such as the striking Emerald Boa – in the last several million years. Silver boas also differ in their living arrangements – unlike the other boas in the area, the silver serpents live in trees, where they feed mostly on birds.

Australia: Giant earthworm set to gain extra protection: “Local councils in Gippsland are moving to protect the habitat of the region’s rare and protected giant earthworm. A small area of west and south Gippsland, east of Melbourne, is the only remaining place where the giant Gippsland earthworm, a state and federal protected species, can be found. Expanding housing developments are threatening the earthworm, with experts hearing anecdotal evidence of a population decline. The worm can grow to up to three metres long, and it is one of the world’s longest species of earthworm. A native Australian species, the giant Gippsland earthworm’s scientific name is Megascolides australis. The worms live entirely underground in their own burrows, and are hermaphroditic, with breeding occurring in spring and summer. Mr Stampton said the council was prepared to do its bit to protect the rare invertebrate”

Swarm of 20,000 bees takes over woman’s car: “Carol Howarth, 65, described the “incredible” ordeal after a team of beekeepers, a park ranger and members of the public gathered to help and contain the swarm after it settled onto the back of her silver Mitsubishi Outlander. Mrs Howarth had parked her car in Haverfordwest, in West Wales, to do a spot of shopping on Sunday when thousands of bees descended onto the vehicle. It was believed the queen bee had flown into the car and thus, the bees followed. “I was the first beekeeper [on scene] and I realised it was in a dangerous place, I tried to brush the bees into a box, I was successful and they all trooped in,” Pembrokeshire Beekeepers’ Association. Dr Roger Burns told Hughesy and Kate. “The following day we had a phone call at about midday saying there was a swarm of bees on the same car,” Mr Burns described. The bees were finally removed that night.

World’s largest sponge found in Hawaii waters: “Scientists say the discovery of the world’s largest known sea sponge in deep waters off Hawaii happened by accident. The ancient giant, which has its own ecosystem, was discovered by a United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration research project exploring waters in the Pacific Ocean. The unusually shaped sponge is more than 2 metres wide and over 3.5 metres long, comparable in size to a minivan. “It looked like a folded blanket,” Dr Christopher Kelly, a research scientist with NOAA and co-lead for the expedition, told Pacific Beat. Dr Kelly said the discovery within Hawaii’s World Heritage-listed Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was a pure accident. Massive sea sponges act as filter for seawater, and also provide habitat for smaller animals.

Incredibly rare 2,300-year-old Ancient Greek gold crown found: “An incredibly rare gold crown believed to be more than 2,000 years old has been discovered under a bed in a Somerset cottage. The delicate Greek myrtle wreath, which is thought to date to 300BC, was found in a tatty cardboard box in the modest Taunton property. Its elderly owner, who wants to remain anonymous, was stunned when he found it. Needless to say his shock gauge went through the roof when an auctioneer then told him the valuable artefact it is worth at least £100,000. Valuers from Duke’s of Dorchester in Dorset attended the pensioner’s home to look at some items he had inherited from his grandfather. ‘It is eight inches across and weighs about 100 grams. It’s pure gold and handmade, it would have been hammered out by a goldsmith. ‘The wreath is in very nice condition for something that’s 2,300 years old”

Robber messed with the WRONG woman: “This is the moment a hapless robber got a taste of his own medicine when the woman he targeted forced him to strip naked and run through the streets in Colombia. Footage shows the victim grabbing the young offender by the hair after he tried to rob her with a knife in the Colombian capital Bogota. After disarming the attacker, she screams at him and slaps in around the head before searching his pockets and ordering him to kneel down. As a crowd of onlookers gather around, she then completes the robber’s humiliation by ordering him to strip naked – before he sprints off down the street covering his private parts with his hands. The video starts by showing the furious woman dragging the would-be thief around by the hair and shouting in his ear. It is played out against the backdrop of a loud alarm from a system that warns neighbours when a crime is being committed, according to LiveLeak, where the video appeared. Crowds then cheer as he is ordered to run off down the street, chased by a small dog”

Sweeteners DO cut calories but they ALSO increase your risk of diabetes, experts warn: “Artificial sweeteners may help cut calories but the sugar replacement could raise the risk of a person being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, experts have warned. The sweet alternatives, noticeably aspartame, causes changes in gut bacteria, which can lead to glucose intolerance. Sweeteners, such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose, are widespread in western diets. They are often used in diet drinks and other foods, to cut calories or prevent tooth decay. But, a new study suggests they may not benefit a person’s health. Professor Jennifer Kuk, of York University in Toronto, said: ‘Our study shows individuals with obesity who consume artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, may have worse glucose management than those who don’t take sugar substitutes.’ ‘We will need to do future studies to determine whether any potentially negative health effects of artificial sweeteners outweigh the benefits for obesity reduction.'”

Women more likely to be seen as leaders when in a typically male pose: “It is often said this is a man’s world. So perhaps it should be no surprise that the key to appearing confident, knowledgeable and inspirational is to stand like a man. Research shows that women are more likely to be viewed as leadership material when they adopt a typically male posture, with their feet planted shoulder-width apart. Expansive hand gestures add to the ‘power pose’. The University College London study found that small changes to a woman’s stance can have a big effect on how she is perceived, even when what she wears and says stay the same. The researchers said: ‘It seems the way people look when words are spoken influences the way people interpret these words.’

Australian man woke up to find he had $123,456,789.01 in his bank account: “A Melbourne man has told 9news.com.au how a Commonwealth banking app ‘glitch’ last year appeared to leave him $123 million richer. Matthew Pearce, 30, said he had opened the app in November of last year to find the balance of his Netbank Saver account had miraculously risen overnight to $123,456,789.01. “It [the app] actually gave me the option to transfer the money and BPAY it, so I could actively transfer money into someone else’s account,” he told 9news.com.au. He said he contacted Commonwealth Bank to notify them about the overdraft, and claims a banking representative laughed at his account, telling him, ‘Oh, that’s great’.” Mr Pearce claims “nothing was done about” the issue, until about two weeks later, when he received a call from a bank representative claimed it had been a “glitch in the system and it can happen sometimes”.

Python sinks its fangs into man’s penis as he sits on the toilet: “A man in Thailand suffered huge blood loss after a python sank its fangs into his penis while he was sitting on the toilet. Atthaporn Boonmakchuay tried desperately to break free after the huge snake attacked in the bathroom of his home in Chachoengsao, east of the capital Bangkok. The 38-year-old reportedly reached down with his hand after feeling a sharp bite – only to discover the serpent’s jaws clamped around the tip of his penis. Atthaporn screamed out for his wife as he thrashed around trying to dislodge the 11ft python. But he was rushed to hospital after suffering horrific blood loss in the ordeal. The 11ft python was found by emergency crews jammed up in the pipes leading to the victim’s toilet. The reptile was then made safe and placed in a bag ahead of being released back in wild, according to Bangpakong News. According to the Mirror Atthaporn is in a stable condition in hospital.”

Lazy Frogs: “Paris employees enjoy the shortest working week in the world with the average worker clocking in for just over 30 hours a week, a new study has revealed. While Hong Kong workers find themselves chained to their desks for an average of 50 hours a week, Parisians took top spot for the shortest time spent in the office. The study of 15 professions across 71 cities was topped by the French – Paris claimed first place and Lyon took second with a working week of 31 hours and 22 minutes. The annual study by finance giant UBS put London’s average working week at a fraction under 33 hours and 30 minutes a week, the 17th shortest in the world. European cities account for the top 18 positions for working the least hours in the study, while Asian cities dominated the longest-working end of the spectrum. The study also took into account paid annual leave and Bank Holidays”

When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, “Sorry sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.”

The old man didn’t budge.

The usher became more impatient. “Sir, if you don’t get up from there I’m going to have to call the manager.”

Once again, the old man just muttered and did nothing.

The usher marched briskly back up the aisle, and in a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the old dishevelled man, but with no success.

Finally they summoned the police.

The officer surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right buddy what’s your name?” “Fred,” the old man moaned.

“Where you from, Fred?” asked the police officer.

With a terrible strain in his voice, and without moving, Fred replied “The balcony…….”

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THE NEWS

Odd news from around the world

Money DOES matter in relationships: Wealthy men are harsher judges of appearance in women: “Emotional connection might help to spur a new relationship, but according to a recent study, money plays a significant role as well. Researchers in China examined the influence of perceived wealth status on romantic behaviour, using two experiments to ‘prime’ participants’ feelings of having relatively more or less money. The study suggests humans engage in ‘conditional mating strategies,’ basing their romantic choices on environmental factors. In the study, published recently to the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers recruited Chinese college students who were involved in heterosexual long term relationships. The researchers found that men who had been primed to feel that they were comparably rich were less satisfied with their partner’s appearance than those who had been made to feel poor, and were more interested in short term relationships”

The transforming ‘hypercopter’ that can hit 293mph: “Airbus has been awarded a patent for, what claims to be, the fastest helicopter in the world. Illustrations reveal a unique design with components found in fixed-wing airplanes, two Rolls Royce Turbomeca RTM322 series engines and technology that transforms the copter into an airplane. Called ‘Compound Helicopter’, the patent describes a vehicle that is high speed, long range hybrid helicopter that maxes out at speeds of 293 miles per hour. The patented helicopter is an advanced version of Airbus’ Eurocopter X3, which is currently under development. Typical speeds of traditional helicopters range from 150 to 160 miles per hour. But the fastest helicopter currently on the market is the US army’s CH-47F Chinoook, which soars at 195 miles per hour. Airbus explains that this aircraft is meant to fly like a helicopter, but transforms into an airplane while in the air – yet still descend vertically to the ground”

New software can tell if you are anything from a paedophile to an ace poker player by analysing your face: “A company claims it can identify terrorists, paedophiles and ace poker players simply by looking at their face. Faception, an Israeli start-up, says its technology can spot character traits that are undetectable to the naked eye. The company claims its software classified nine of the 11 Paris massacre jihadists as terrorists from their facial features without inputting any prior knowledge of their involvement. It appears to have been so successful, the firm says it is now working with a homeland security agency to help identify criminals. Shai Gilboa, Faception chief executive, said: ‘We understand the human much better than other humans understand each other. ‘Our personality is determined by our DNA and reflected in our face. It’s a kind of signal.’ The firm, which was founded in Tel Aviv in 2014, has developed a database of 15 classifiers which Gilboa says are used to determine personality traits with 80 per cent accuracy.

The camper van that costs the same as a Ferrari: Fully restored 1957 split-screen Volkswagen set to reach £120,000 at auction: “A classic Volkswagen camper van could sell for a record £120,000 when it goes up for auction next month. The 1957 Type 2 Samba Microbus is the highly sought after 23-window, split-screen model. It has spent most of its life in the US, but was shipped over to the UK in 2005 and recently underwent a full, nut-and-bolt restoration. This 1957 model has a 1.5-litre engine which was stripped down, cleaned and rebuilt last year. The seats were sand blasted and painted, and then re-trimmed in the original light brown colour, while the headlining, door cards and sunroof were made and supplied by West Coast Classics in California. The camper has been given a guide price of between £80,000 and £120,000 – potentially making setting a new UK record.

Ugly frog: “With its plumped up body and sullen face, you could be forgiven for thinking this Australian amphibian bears a striking resemblance to Jabba the Hutt. The frog, nicknamed ‘The Boss’ by its owners, has an uncanny similarity to the Star Wars’ villain. Like the obese alien, the Australian waxy monkey tree frog has a grotesque triple chin and terrifying reptilian eyes. Owner Keith Talbot, 47, snapped ‘The Boss’ at his home in Ashington, Northumberland while it was perched on a branch in a vivarium. He said: ‘He was sunbathing when I took these photos, unlike other tree frogs they like basking. ‘He ignored me when I took the photos, croaking and making chirping noises.’ He may be ‘The Boss’, but at only three inches tall, he is far smaller than the ‘slimy worm-ridden piece of filth’ – as Jabba is lovingly called by Han Solo”

BRASOV, Romania—Like thousands of cops the world over, Marian Godina got an angry call from his bosses. They wanted to see him immediately.

Some years earlier Officer Godina, a traffic officer in this city of 250,000 in the mountains of Transylvania, had pulled over a drunken driver who, in a break from the ordinary, had chosen to acknowledge his inebriation—with gusto. Asked if he had been drinking, the driver replied: “Do I look sober to you?” Asked what types of drinks he’d had, he said: “All sorts. Write down, a-l-l s-o-r-t-s.” When asked if he knew what day it was, he said: “It’s night…not day,” tossing in a few choice expletives.

When Officer Godina’s bosses saw, last summer, that he had posted the incident on Facebook, they weren’t amused by the coarse language. They ordered him to take down his entire Facebook page. Officer Godina, now 29 years old, was so humiliated he thought about quitting the force.

But overnight, after his page went dark, the Brasov police server crashed. It had been bombarded with complaints in his support. The next day, his bosses reversed course and ordered him to reactivate the page.

Though they hadn’t known it, Officer Godina’s Facebook page had become a cause célèbre. For decades, Romanian traffic police officers had been the subject of endless jokes about their alleged lack of integrity, education and wit. Officer Godina’s page was so relentlessly honest, funny, grammatically correct and at times openly critical of the corruption he saw firsthand that he had developed a loyal following among fed-up citizens.

Officer Godina’s Facebook breakthrough began with a post last year about watermelons. In 2009 he had been called out to investigate a crash in which a taxi had flipped over and a good Samaritan driving a watermelon truck had saved the driver. In his haste the truck driver had forgotten to set his brake; the truck rolled into a ditch and spilled its fruit—a season’s income—leaving the driver “crying like a child and staring in sorrow” at his truck, Officer Godina wrote. The policeman did his own good turn, helping the driver right his truck and re-stack the melons. The post earned him nearly 6,000 Facebook “likes”—and raves for being a government official working for the public good.

That notion was such a novelty, some skeptics wrote that Officer Godina might be just a “marketing gimmick.”

In later posts, he discussed why pedestrians can also be fined if they don’t look out for cars, and criticized his bosses for putting up yield signs on a dead-end street. He also sprinkled in goofy pictures and anecdotes from the job—police cars full of cabbages; another drunken driver pretending his dog had been behind the wheel; a driver seeking to avoid a fine by pretending he didn’t understand Romanian after spending a year in Italy.

Now, with more than 260,000 Facebook followers, Officer Godina is benefiting from a wave of popular disgust with corruption in this post-Communist country. In November, after huge street protests against corruption and abuse of power, the national government resigned. The protests were initially prompted by the death of a traffic policeman who had been opening the way for the motorcade of the then-interior minister. It later turned out that the minister wasn’t traveling on official business. A few days later, protests grew nationwide when a fire killed 63 people in a nightclub that authorities had allowed to function without proper fire precautions. The new national government has vowed to crack down on corruption, and prosecutors have won graft cases against prominent politicians and local officials, including Brasov’s former chief of traffic police.

Officer Godina, a Brasov native, wanted to be a cop since he was a child. When he was sworn in nine years ago, he said he promised to apply the law without fear or favor and never to take a bribe. But he and his colleagues would regularly write traffic tickets and have them torn up after wealthy or influential people appealed to his bosses—just like in Communist days, when powerful party members were above the law.

The officer stuck to his standards. In February, he fined the driver of a local councilor for failing to stop at a crosswalk, almost hitting a girl. When the councilor, in the car at the time, complained, Officer Godina’s bosses called him in to say he shouldn’t have fined the driver and that he had been disrespectful. A disciplinary inquiry was launched, which Officer Godina chronicled on Facebook, posting the recording of his conversation with the driver.

His fans were outraged. Around a hundred policemen from across Romania showed up in Brasov to support him, sporting bumper stickers reading “I am Godina.”

“His bosses totally underestimated Facebook, they had no clue how powerful it is,” said Alexandru Berbecariu, a 16-year-old high-school student in Brasov, who repeatedly said Officer Godina was “awesome.”

The scandal was picked up in national media. In the following weeks, the local councilor resigned, while the head of the Brasov police and one of his deputies went into early retirement.

Anticorruption prosecutors have launched an investigation into abuse of power. The two police bosses and the councilor deny any wrongdoing. Liviu Naghi, spokesman for the Brasov police, said that Officer Godina’s accusations “look good on Facebook” but that they “need to be proven, with evidence, by the prosecutor.”

The mayor of Brasov, George Scripcaru, himself on trial for corruption, said he is doubtful Mr. Godina can bring about change in a society deeply devoted to its old ways.

“Change doesn’t come like that, saying from today on, we completely change our ways,” he said. “Yes, it’s good what he’s doing, humanizing the Romanian policeman, showing problems in a fun way. But the problems remain.”

Plus, when state employees post on Facebook, he said, “hierarchy is no longer respected.”

Officer Godina translated his Facebook fame into a book contract. Published in February, “Flashes From the Other Way” compiles his funniest Facebook posts and other sketches of life on the force. It has sold 40,000 copies, making it Romania’s best-selling book so far this year, and the best performer ever among police authors, according to his publisher. He has followed up with a children’s book explaining traffic rules, to come out June 1.

Writing wasn’t his ambition, but he said he likes to amuse his friends with funny tales from work and to write poems to the girls he falls in love with. He’s now a heartthrob, and sometimes posts about dates. He said he is in no hurry to tie the knot: “If I’m lucky, I won’t get married next year, either.”

At his book launch in late February, Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos showed up and told journalists he hoped the “Godina phenomenon” can be replicated in other state institutions. A top judge has now begun posting quirky work anecdotes along with criticism of corruption.

After two months on the road to promote his book, Officer Godina returned to Brasov and resumed his traffic job. On a sunny day late in April, he was back directing traffic around a ceremony for World War II veterans. Some things have changed. When one of the top brass who last year told him to take down his Facebook page stepped out of a black SUV and greeted him with a broad smile, Officer Godina said: “My bosses are all afraid of me now.”

Armed robber is jailed for 21 years after his victim recognised him when Facebook suggested they should become friends: “Omar Famuyide, 21, was identified after his face popped up in the ‘People You May Know’ feed on one of his victims’ social media pages. A court heard he was one of two men who burst into the Ambassador’s Relaxation Suite in Birmingham city centre on July 13 last year. The thugs assaulted two women inside and threatened them with a metal bar and a handgun before shooting at the building as they fled. Famuyide then struck again a month later on August 11 when he walked up to a man in the Highgate area of the city and held a gun to his head. The victim in that robbery contacted officers in August to say he recognised Famuyide from his feed on Facebook. He was eventually caught and a search of his home in Highgate found a distinctive fisherman’s style hat – identical to that worn by the offender during the Ambassador’s raid.

Video shows a young man driving with a COW in the back of his tiny car: “How do you give a cow a lift? Do you a) Hire a truck? b) Walk home with it? c) Stick it in the backseat of your car? One resourceful young man plumped for the last option after buying a cow at a local market and took it for a spin along the roads of Borat’s native Kazakhstan with the animal poking its head out of the rear window. The video shows the young man, who looks to be in his early twenties, smiling and giggling as the animal stares deeply into the camera. The hefty brown and white animal has its head completely out of the window and the rest of its body apparently stuffed into the back of the small car. Local media believe the animal had just been bought at a local market and was being driven home by its new owner”

More California dreaming: “A Los Angeles driver had an unpleasant experience while heading past a restaurant, after a naked man suddenly jumped out from underneath a car and launched himself on top of the moving vehicle. The bizarre incident occurred on Cahuenga Blvd W in Studio City, right outside the Mexican restaurant Mercado. Footage taken by a passer-by shows the man appear from hiding by a parked car, and then charge at the white hatchback coming right at him. The driver quickly stops before hitting the man, however he keeps running and throws himself at the windscreen. The man screams out as he launches in the air, landing on the bonnet. He lies there motionless for a few seconds, stark-naked, before quickly getting up and jumping off the car. The man points in the air while walking to the sidewalk, where he collapses to the ground. The caption on the video said it was ‘yet another daily occurrence of some nude guy wigging-out in the streets'”

Painting worth millions found in ordinary home: “Earlier this year, a painting found in the attic of a house in south-west France two years ago was attributed to Italian master Caravaggio by French art expert, Eric Turquin, who now hails its discovery as a great event in the history of art. The work, which depicts Biblical heroine Judith beheading an Assyrian general, was found by the owners who had no idea about the painting until they went to the top of the house to check a leak in the roof. “They had to go through the attic and break a door which they had never opened. They broke the door and behind it was that picture. It’s really incredible,” Turquin said. The painting is thought to have been painted in Rome in 1604-1605 by Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, and is “in exceptionally good condition”, according to Turquin, “despite having been forgotten in the attic for probably more than 150 years.” It has been reported the painting could be worth €120 million ($125 million)”

World’s longest rail tunnel a ‘godsend’ for Europe: EU official: “The new Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT), set to become the world’s longest railway tunnel when it opens on June 1, is a “godsend for Europe”, EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc told Swiss media Monday. The 57-kilometre (35.4-mile) tunnel, which runs under the Alps, was first conceived in sketch-form in 1947 but construction began 17 years ago. Since then, some 28.2 million tonnes of mountain rock have been excavated and an estimated $12 billion (10.6 billion euros) spent to construct a tunnel that should trim travel times through the heart of Europe. The GBT “will be a vital link connecting Rotterdam (and) Antwerp with the ports of the Adriatic,” Bulc told the Swiss daily Tages Anzeiger. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, along with Swiss officials, are due to attend the grand opening next week.

A security camera caught a spectacular scene involving a beautiful woman who got so mad that she decided to go topless. “The situation began when she entered the store while smoking a cigarette. That’s when the security guard confronted her to tell her that there was no smoking allowed in the store. With the fuming woman challenging him, the security guard decided to carry her out of the store. However, it didn’t take her long to come back. This time, she came armed with a cup of water, which she promptly threw at the security guard. In her final act of violence, the lady decided to take off her white top and throw it at the security guard. The topless woman then finally decided enough was enough.

Vegan sends the wrong message: “A woman who died of altitude sickness while climbing Mount Everest took on the challenge to prove that ‘vegans can do anything’. Maria Strydom died on Saturday afternoon after having to turn back from the final leg of the expedition because she felt unwell. She returned to Camp 4, the last camp before the mountain’s summit, on Friday where she spent the night but died from lack of oxygen the following day. The 34-year-old South African national taught at Monash University in Melbourne and was an experienced climber. Her husband Robert Gropel is injured but, according to trip organisers, ‘100 per cent safe’. Weeks before her death Dr Strydom told how she and her husband wanted to dispel the belief that vegans were ‘weak’ or ‘malnourished’ by taking on the climb”

Heroic cow tries to save girl being killed by her family: “A COW has come to the aid of a young woman being stabbed to death by her father and uncle in India. The young woman was attacked near a shelter for women she had been staying at in Hazira, India. The woman had run away from her family and eloped with a 22-year-old man Sonu, against her parent’s wishes in January, according to police. Sonu had been arrested and sent to jail in January after her father complained, but that was not enough for her family. A video shows her father and uncle viciously attacking her, stabbing her multiple times. It is during this vicious attack that a cow nearby attacks the two men, it what appear to be a heroic move by the cow. The video shows the cow jumping on top of the uncle and father and pushing them away from the young woman. The duo run away after the cow attacks them, but the young girl did not survive the attack”

Security Guard Confiscates Man’s Tie Clasp for the DUMBEST Reason: “In the latest incident of anti-gun manic disorder to erupt in America, a security guard refused a man attempting to attend a court board meeting in Tucson, Ariz. and forced him to remove a machine gun-shaped tie clasp from his necktie for the duration of the meeting. The incident happened on Tuesday at the threshold of a meeting of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, reports the Arizona Daily Independent. The very small, metal, pewter tie clasp Spear chose to wear on Tuesday night is shaped like a 1921 Thompson submachine gun. It is a little over two inches long. “If the tie clasp could hold bullets, they would have to be .0045 caliber,” Spear told Tucson talk radio host James T. Harris on Thursday”

Spider freaks weatherman: “West Virginia weatherman Bryan Hughes was left screaming in terror after an eight-legged beast crawled across the camera lens during a live broadcast Thursday. Hughes’s hilarious reaction to the (admittedly pretty horrible) sight has left thousands on the web laughing and wincing in equal amounts, The Blaze said. Hughes is happily bantering with his colleagues at WOWK when the map behind him switches to the ‘Weather Eye’ camera showing a foggy cityscape – and the huge silhouette of a spider on the lens. The poor guy, who’s stood in front of a green screen and still chatting away, has no idea what he’s in for, until colleagues excitedly tell him to take a look. He then glances down at the monitor showing him what the viewers are seeing and the effect is instantaneous. ‘Jeeze Louise,’ cries Hughes, as he instinctively backs away from the monitor and disappears off camera. He returns a couple of seconds later, laughing – along with everyone else in the studio”